Pregnancy Induced Carpal Tunnel ?

I had it with two of my pregnancies. I wore a brace (bought at the drug store)at night while I slept. It worked very well, the pain went away. It did go away on it's own after I had the babies.

A dr. told me to sleep with my hand straight open and not in a fist and that worked well for me.
Good luck to you.

Yes! I was very swollen with my first daughter and had carpal tunnel. After my doctor's standard answer "it will go away after delivery", she did suggest I try a wrist brace to keep it immobile. I bought one at Walgreens. I wore it most of the day and all night. It did provide a little relief, but the pain persisted for the remainder of the pregnancy.

I did not get it with my second child.

L.

I had this!!! It sucks!!! I wish I had words of advice for you, but I just suffered through it...
Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!
D.

Congratulations on the boy!
Yes, I'm experiencing it now as well at 34 weeks. It started in my 2nd trimester and I was told the same thing. I had it for my first pregnancy as well, but this time it was different. I too wanted to cut off my arm, but with nerve pain - that wouldn't even help.
Just after it started I went to a new chiropractor and she found a rib out of place between my shoulders and that night I had NO PAIN. The roll the pregnancy is playing for me is that ALL my joints are loose from the relaxin hormone - and more so on this pregnancy than the last. So I'm finding that everything is loose. This one was stuck out for a while though, and now it's loosened up again so some nights it bothers me and others, not so much. But if it keeps up for a couple of nights in a row I go back to have an adjustment. And everytime I see her that rib is out of place.
My old chiropractor told me it was carpal tunnel too, so you need to see someone who is willing to look for any joint that is not aligned.
I see you're in the bay area or I'd give you her name and number. She's in Davis, so if you want to travel this far, let me know I'd be happy to give you all her contact info.
Otherwise, best wishes and hang in there, it will get better after the baby is born.

I had mild carpal tunnel but terrible trigger finger in both hands. I saw a chiropractor quite a lot during my pregnancy it helped a lot with everything moving and it did help relieve some of the tendon related discomforts. I don't know where you are located but Dr Ross in Davis is fantastic. The other benefit of chiropractic work while pregnant is that it helps keep your pelvis correctly aligned so that your muscles can function properly during labor. Plus the massage work that often goes with it is so welcome. Your body is being pulled all over the place right now by having so much additional weight in front pulling on both your low back and shoulders. It is worth making sure it is as well aligned as it can be.

I had carpal tunnel terribly bad with my third daughter. I didn't get it with my first two. I was 35 with my last one, and 25 and 29 with my first two. I don't know if it was due to age or not. I bought braces to wear at night. You can wear them all day, but I worked. If it's any consulation it will go away after the baby is born. Good luck!
R. M.

Ice for 20 min. before bedtime and ice again throughout the day too. It doesn't feel good while you're doing it but it will improve your pain!!

I had it also the only things you can do is not sleep with your hands over you r head. Wear a brace ,sleep with a neck roll or orthopedic pillow. The problem is rally with your neck being out of place. Hang in there it gets better. Maybe after the baby is born you could go to the chiropractor.S.

Dear J.,
I had never heard of pregnancy induced carpal tunnel prior to today.
One thing I might suggest is seeing a good chiropractor. It's very easy to get out of alignment as your body shifts to compensate for the weight of your baby and the impending birth. You might have something "out" that is pinching something. I'd never been to a chiro in my life and was in so much pain with my first pregnancy that I broke down and went to a chiropractor. It was amazing. I received chiropractic care throughout my second pregnancy as well.
I just thought I'd throw the idea out there.
Take care and congratulations on your baby boy!

I did have this as well during my pregnancy. I have it on and off even when not pregnant, but my doctor also said that many woman have a flare up during pregnancy. As for what to do...doctors will typically tell you to stay off the computer (or away from whatever repetitive task is irritating it), wear a brace and take advil. I wasn't too happy with that advice and have seen an acupuncturist in the past with great success. Within 3 visits I'm usually good as new. As long as they know you're pregnant it is safe. I also used acupuncture to induce labor when I hit my due date so it can be used for inducing labor, but if you go to a skilled person there aren't any issues.

Good luck, I know it can be terribly painful. Congrats on the baby.

I'm so sorry, it really stinks!! I was way more helpless in the month before my baby came than afterwards! (as in, I couldnt stand (walking and sitting was fine), I couldn't chop/cook in the kitchen, I couldn't write anything, etc. I feel for you!!

Some things that have helped (I dont remember what really did and what only sort of helped because it has been almost 7 yrs now since my boy came in June! I did have some occasional CT issues before and since but nothing like my last trimester!!!)

Biggest culprit for me was tucking my hands under my chin as I slept. I had to train myself, first with a wrist brace(that has a metal bar going from the wrist into the palm, not the strap around the wrist type) and eventually moved to just putting my 2 hands flat against each other and tucking it under my pillow. Basically, you dont want to bend your wrist while you're sleeping.

There is a great cream called Myoflex (white tube, red & blue lettering) that someone recommended when I had a severe backache and I love it. That might give you some relief.

Keep your hands up as much as you can. If you are on the computer a lot, get an ergomonic split keyboard and get rid of the regular mouse. We have an ergonomic mouse that is actually a trackball controlled by the thumb and the fingers still control the clickers. They dont make this anymore but it has made a world of a difference for both me and my husband, I would recommend looking for it, or at the very least, easing up on the computer clicking.

Heat and ice packs. Get a fabric bag or use a tube sock (preferably NOT wool!) and fill it with rice, wheat or dried beans. sew or tie it shut. Microwave it for just a min or two (I nuke mine for 2 mins and the largest bag I have which is maybe 10x15 inches, I nuke for 2 1/2 - 3 mins) This gives great relief for all the various aches and pains we have. Just last night my husband was complaining that his wrist/thumb was hurting all day and the wHeat pack we put on it helped him so much, he went to bed happy without pain. Try that. And/or ice.

Hmm, what else? Ease up on what seems to be your triggers to the pain. Pay attention to the placement of your wrists (straight is preferable so nerves are not pinched off) Ibuprofren (is that ok while you're preg? can't remember now) is good for this type of pain from swelling. Ask your dr.
Patiently bear through it, it WILL go away when your son arrives, maybe a day or two. It WILL feel better!! Don't be afraid to ask for help before the birth - I wish I had known I would have been so much more able to cook and do stuff afterwards than before and had friends bring meals before instead of after.

I had that too. They told me to try to keep my arm straight as much as possible, not bending my wrist or elbow and keeping my shoulder at a normal angle, while sleeping. And to not put my arm under my head (like a pillow). It seemed to help me quite a bit, but I don't think mine was as bad as yours. I hope you can find some relief.

Hi J.,

Unfortunately you will suffer the rest of your pregnancy and then up to a few months after. My arms hurt for at least 3 months after the birth of my son. The positive is that when it went away, it is completely gone, I never have pain anymore!!!

Hang in there,
K.

I had this with my second pregnancy and it was painful. You have gotten some great advice already. Wrist guards can help and minimizing things that you do that may make it worse. If you spend a lot of time on your laptop you may want to cut back.

Just know that it will go away after you give birth. Mine lasted for 2-3 months after I gave birth but slowly got better. It was a challenge to care for my baby. Carrying him hurt and changing his diaper was difficult.

I had to wear wrist guard braces the last month of my first pregnancy...just be careful not to whack your husband in the middle of the night with 'em...ouch ;-) Sucks, but it does go away.

Hi J.,

Yes, I also got pregnancy-induced carpel tunnel in both hands. It did go away shortly after giving birth. I also had a desk job at the time which compounded the problem but sleeping was so hard. The one thing I did that helped tremendously was to wear hand braces both day and night but especially at night. This made such a difference. I bought them at Rite Aid and they are the kind that have a hard lining inside not the soft brace type with no support. I know it's a pain but it helped so much. I hope this helps you. Congrats on having a little boy!

I also had this with my first pregnancy (not my second). I wore wrist braces, which helped some, but not much. I ended up having one or two cortisone shots in my wrists towards the end of my pregnancy as it got to a point where I could not feel anything in my hands (too numb)and almost cut myself a few times in the kitchen. Also, I kept dropping things. The shots helped quite a bit. Within a week or so after delivery, my carpal tunnel was completely gone and has never returned. If you're willing to consider the cortisone shots, you might want to talk to your doctor about it.

Hi J.,

Congratulations on your first baby...coming soon!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is extremely frustrating during pregnancy and I remember it well - TWICE! Having to wake up to pee and just to turn over is bad enough, but to wake up with "zooming" sensations through your hands is doubling annoying!!!

Your hands go numb because the blood supply to the nerve is getting restricted - either because of pressure, position or reduced blood flow via circulation.

Something which would be highly beneficial would be to see an Occupational Therapist who is also a Certified Hand Therapist or at least a specialist in Hand Therapy.

Your OB/GYN can give you a referral. Even if you went for a few visits, they could evaluate you, recommend the correct splints for you (position matters!), teach you things to do at home that can minimize the swelling, improve blood flow and keep symptoms to a minimum and give you advice on good ergonomic applications for the specific things that you do during the day. If you work at a computer all day and are pregnant too then your hands are being doubly stressed. These specialists can help you with that too. They will also give you exercises to do and use modalities in the clinic to help with the symptoms.

Education is key. They will also give you tips for AFTER the birth on how to protect your hands so that the symptoms go away as soon as possible. Once baby comes along - your hands will be in full use!

If you need help finding an Occupational Therapist/Certified Hand Therapist, you can go to www.htcc.org (Hand Therapy Certification Commission) and click on the "CHT Directory" or www.asht.org (American Society of Hand Therapists) and click on "Find A Therapist".

Hope this helps. Feel free to contact me directly if you would like more information.

Hi. I have carpal tunnel although I'm not pregnant. I use a magnetic bracelet for my carpal tunnel. I know it sounds weird but back around 2003 I had terrible pain in my thumb and was in the mall where they were having a crafts show and one of the tables was magnetic jewelry. The gal told me that a magnetic bracelet would make my pain go away in 20 minutes. Well, it took 30 and I have been wearing them since. The magnet makes the oxygen flow better in your arm.

Would you like to try one?

Hi J.,
I also had pregnancy induced carpal tunnel with my triplets. You can sleep with an wrist brace that will relieve some of the pain. I had to sleep with one on each arm for the last month and a half of my pregnancy....it was terrible. It did, however, relieve some of the pain...not all of it. I no longer have it and my triplets are 6 months old. I think it lasted a few days past delivery. Good luck and Congrats on your baby boy!

I've never heard of that - which doesn't mean anything at all :) Anyway, my husband had severe carpal tunnel (having been misdiagnosed) for three years. It is nerves rubbing on the tunnel that guides these nerves into your hand (usually). Immobilizing worked most of the time for him. He had rigid splints for his wrists and wore them to bed. Also, ice them before bed, and use a pain killer that is also an anti inflamatory - Obviously, ask your doc first.

Pain causes other medical problems. The stress of this pain and the lack of sleep CAN affect you physically and can affect your pregnancy. Do what you have to to get rid of the pain.

CONGRATULATIONS !!! Baby boys are awesome.

Carpal tunnel is quite common during pregnancy. I had it before I was pregnant and it got worse throughout my pregenancy. You can get a brace to help support your hand and wrist. Usually the symptoms reside after you give birth.

I didn't have any problems with this with my first child, but it was terrible with my second--and I could find NO real help. I took Tylenol when needed to get some sleep, and it did wear off after the baby was born--but not as quickly as the baby weight left! (I was nursing a new baby and a toddler, so it didn't stay around)

My daughter has suffered with carpal tunnel for the past 3 years. She has found that if she keeps her hands to her sides when she sleeps, and does not roll over on to her hands, the pain is lessened. I also knew a mom with carpal tunnel who contrived a belt to keep herself from lifting up her arms during sleep. I know this is hard when you are already having trouble finding a comfortable position to sleep! The therapy sessions do help, as do the contrast (hot/cold) water baths. Try to carry things cradled in your arms rather than grasping with your hands. Ask for help lifting and chopping in the kitchen if you can. Also, try to keep your hands nice and warm, as cold can make it worse -- my daughter wears fingerless gloves and mitts all the time now. Best of luck, A.

I had this with my first pregnancy, but not my second or third. I wore a brace at night that helped since I often slept with my hands/wrists curled up, which exacerbated the problem. It did go away once I delivered, although I had a bit of a recurrence as I tended to hold my baby with my wrist and hand turned at a 90 degree angle to my forearm. It helped me to constantly remind myself to keep my wrist and hand in line with my forearm. Best of luck!

Yes, I had it when I was pregnant for the last several months. After I gave birth to my daughter it became so severe that I was numb in my thumbs and index fingers on both hands. I literally could not change her diaper without help. I wore a brace that went almost up to my elbow when I slept at night and I elevated my arm. You need to mobilize it so that you are not moving it around so much. This is very common. Mine I believe just became worse then others. I ended up staying home for a year on disability because it would not go away. Thankfully I had that year at home with my daughter. To this day it still bothers me to some point off and on. My doctor recommended Vitamin B Complex and it has made a huge difference. I would ask your doctor if you can take it while pregnant. Make sure it has B6 and B12 in it. I take it every day and rarely have issues. Good luck and hang in there! :-)
L.

Dear J., I was 5 mo. pregnant in 1996. I spend so much money on chiropractors, massages, I wanted to avoid surgery on two wrists. Nothing helped that much, but 4 years ago I found good nutritional formula, I feel 95% better and same formula helped with my arthritis and headaches. It is safe for babies or breastfeeding moms.If you are not affraid of sales pitch, we can talk. Best wishes, enjoy the baby, (every second of it) the baby stage is flying so fast. I am so thankful to God I had three.

Hi!
I know the feeling! I had it with both my kids. Mine "seemed" to go away when I delivered and then returned when both of my kids got to be around 15#, carrying the carrier around was aggravating it. It went away when I switched to a "real" carseat and then didn't have that added stress, but it meant that my kids were woken up whenever we got out of the car. Oh, well... It still flares up sometimes, but nowhere near the pain during preg. and after when I was carrying around that baby carrier!!! Even carrying it close to my elbow didn't help, it was just so much better for me to just carry my babies! Good luck!

YESSSS!!! it SUCKS!! you're lucky you didn't get until really late in your pregnancy! Congrats on the baby. I'm surprised your OB didn't suggest PT or other ways to help. i had it BOTH times with by boys, the 2nd was way worse! not even wearing the braces at night helped. if your insurance covers PT i would make an appointment or just go to local drug store & pick up braces. wear them at night - the first time it helped me & i woke up with no numbness or pain. wear them during the day when you feel you need to. DO ICE PLUNGES - i wanted to cut off my arm too! fill a pitcher with water & ice. put your arm in & out there only a few seconds at a time (so you don't burn your arm). Cary Ice packs with you EVERYWHERE & sleep with them too! i used the cryotherapy pack (blue, soft, gel) b/c they were easier. i had lots of ice packs i switched out so even just the kind you buy in the pic nic section of your grocer will work. sleep with your arms/hands straight on pillows, dangles them at the side of your bed to relieve numbness. even during my CSection i felt like my arms were going to explode & had to ask for ice packs. about the 3rd day after delivery i was almost not using them at all. takes about a month to go away. the ice helps & is great! good luck

Sounds like you are low in minerals. Most people are. I suggest TJ Clarks Colloidal Minerals as a supplement. It works really well on carpal tunnel pain.
I was at the check out at my local health food store with a Bottle of TJ Clark's Collodial Minerals and struck up a conversation with the guy behind me. He told me this amazing story how he was a carpenter for years and got carpel tunnel and mid-carpel all the way to his shoulder and could not hold a hammer. Needless to say he lost his job, his home and ended up living in his van. He would wake screaming from the pain if he accidentally leaned on his arm. A friend met him and heard his symptoms and said, "I know what you need". He got him on Colloidal Minerals and in two months this man who had gotten on complete disability was back at work. The healing power of minerals. Sounds like you have a similar version and TJ Clarks will work for you. Plus it can only enhance your health. (He also told me the history of the product. Eons ago when the earth's soil had powerful minerals in it and the plants thrived and absorbed the minerals. The plant matter got compressed over time and layers of earth created Shale. This Shale is mined and is plant based colloidal minerals. TJ Clark has been making this for 56 years. It is an excellent product.
Good Luck

I had to use braces on both wrists during the last month and a half of my pregnancy for pregnancy induced carpel tunnel. I also went to physical therapy which would do treatments and they gave me exercises to do. The treatments felt good; it was a warm wax peel (like at the spa). They also told me to dip my hands/wrists in warm water then dip in cold water and alternate. I work in a molecular lab where carpel tunnel is an issue to begin with so during my last month I was put on disability by my doctor because I was unable to give my wrists a break.

It went away after I gave birth. But you still have to be careful when you have the baby at home because it is easy to have carpel tunnel to while breast feeding, etc. Just pay attention to how you are using your hands.

Good Luck!

hello =)

im almost 30 weeks pregnant and actually had carpal tunnel long before i got pregnant. to prevent some pain during the night, buy some wrist bands with a splint integrated with it. it will prevent you from bending your wrist while sleeping. dont put it on too tight tho or you'll cut off circulation and make ur hands even more numb. theyre uncomfortable at first, but youll get used to them. also i use heating stickers like "salompas" or i think even icyhot makes some. have your hubby massage your fingers upwards from your tips to your wrist to increase the blood flow and for some loving healing touch.

also, to heal my carpal tunnel, this was before i was pregnant, the only medicine or treatment that did work was acupuncture. i had cp for almost 2 years without any relief and once i started doing acupuncture (3 times a week) the pain started going away in 4 weeks and almost completely gone by 3 months.

hang in there! only 8 more weeks to go!!!

kris

Hi-

I got carpal tunnel in my hands during both pregnancies. Would wake up in the night with them numb and feeling like they were being pricked with needles. Unfortunately, it did last throughout the pregnancy but did go away right after giving birth - I didnt' have a single bad night once the baby was born. My OB also said it was pretty common and didnt' have any recommendations for getting rid of the carpal tunnel other than to have the baby. Good luck!

C.

I had the same thing during my last month of pregnancy. Except mine was in my right calf. It felt like someone stuck a drill in the middle of my calf muscle and turned it on! Excruciating pain! But, don't worry, the pan will seem minor once you go into labor!! JK!! The only thing that worked was the massage. I know that doesn't solve the problem, but maybe your hubby will feel bad for you, and you'll get more than just an arm massage!! :) It did go completely away once my son was born.

I have the same thing. During my first pregnancy my doctor gave me soft casts (splints) to wear at night. If your wrist can stay straight it will lessen the discomfort. If is not 100% relief, but it's improvement. My second pregnancy it is worse and I have the tingling even when not sleeping (read now). But it does go away after baby is born.
B.